Social, Emotional and Mental Health

Pupil’s social, emotional and mental wellbeing is at the centre of our curriculum as we recognise that being emotionally and mentally well supports pupils to be ready to engage and learn. Our social, emotional and mental health curriculum teaches children about managing their feelings and behaviour, developing their mental health and wellbeing, building positive relationships and keeping themselves safe.

The following themes run through our social, emotional and mental health curriculum. They are delivered through the themes of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL).

Body Awareness  – children will develop an understanding of their bodies, knowing their body parts and telling adults when something in their body doesn’t feel right as well as what is private about their body and what children can do if something happens to their body. At Palatine, we also use the West Sussex E4S curriculum to support pupils further in this area.

Relationships and working with others – Children will develop their social skills and relationships with others by joining in with others and learning how to play alongside and with others. They will build relationships with people around them and know who is important to them and why. Our relationships and sex education policy outlines how we support pupils to learn about positive relationships and has been consulted on with parents and staff.

Feelings – Children will develop my understanding of different feelings and emotions, what these might look and feel like and strategies they could use to help me when they feel these. At Palatine, we use the Zones of regulation to support pupils understanding of their emotions and how to help themselves to be able to regulate when they are in the different zones.

Making good choices – Children are supported to develop their understanding of how to express their feelings appropriately and know what the boundaries are that they will be working within at school. Children develop the skills to be able to choose from and select options that will help them navigate back into a space where they are ready to learn and respond to language that helps pupils to understand this. Children will develop the confidence to take on new challenges.

Where children need extra support to regulate and be ready to learn, the Palatine behaviour team supports pupils with strategies and behaviour management resources. These are documented in a support strategies or behaviour management plan.